first of all; in the first place; to begin with; for starters
willingly; voluntarily; on one's own accord
doubt; question; uncertainty; skepticism; scepticism; suspicion
external; foreign (e.g. relations); public (e.g. image)
various foreign countries; several foreign countries
to entangle; to entwine; to pick a quarrel; to find fault; to be involved with; to be influenced by
to be suspicious of (someone's motives); to suspect (that)
pirate; sea robber; buccaneer; freebooter
specific; particular; designated; specifying; designating; identifying
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
to exhaust one's vocabulary (in trying to persuade somebody or explain something, etc.); to run out of words; to be verbose; to cajole; to talk someone's head off
precise; accurate; appropriate; exactly the right
one's physical safety; personal security
fabrication; put-up job; trumped-up story; frame-up; hoax
now (while the time is ripe); while one still can
exclusion; removal; rejection; elimination; abatement; lifting (sanctions, etc.)
it's best to; it's safest to; there's nothing better than
covering; protection; backing; relief
to be unable to bear (something) any longer; to be unable to put up with (something) any longer
blank space (in documents); vacuum; blank; void
disembarkation; getting off a ship; going ashore
next (to); adjoining; adjacent; house next door; neighbouring house; next-door neighbour
common knowledge; well-known fact
to get close; to cuddle close together; to nestle close to; to snuggle up to
group (of people); crowd; horde; throng; mob; multitude
drifting; drift; being adrift
personal statement; verbal or informal, unsubstantiated assertion
no more than; just; only; mere; goes no further than
fall; tumble; spill; degradation; comedown; demotion
to do together; to share; to participate in
impossible; unlikely; improbable
go that far; to that extent
unskillful; poor; awkward; imprudent; untactful
protection; advocacy; support; to protect (e.g. rights, etc.); to advocate (e.g. free trade, etc.); to support
to be in danger of; to be liable to
abdomen; belly; womb; one's mind; one's real intentions; courage; nerve
to feel around for; to fumble for; to investigate; to probe into; to explore (parts unknown); to enjoy (natural beauty)
to falter; to flinch (from); to recoil (from); to quail (at)
attitude; manner; behaviour; attitude (towards an issue, etc.); position; stance
distress; wretched condition